Rastafarian Beliefs and Values

a friend of mine wants to be a rastafarian. is this just an excuse to be cool and never wash his hair. or does this religion have merit.

please help me understand?????

is he white or black?

Rastafarianism

Originating in Jamaica in 1930, Rastafarianism is a religious and cultural movement that has many links with the Jewish and Christian faiths. The original devotees to Rastafarianism, known in short as Rastas, were Jamaicans led by Marcus Garvey, a charismatic Jamaican leader. He prophesised the crowning of Haile Selassie as King, God and saviour of the black people of the world. Ras (meaning Lord), Tafari (a family name) was the prince who, in 1930, was crowned Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, King of Kings, Lord of Lords.
Rastafarianism has now become more of a cultural `Back to Africa' mass movements. Its beliefs are based on the Bible and Rastas interpret the Bible as an account of Rastafarian history.
According to Rastas, when the 12 tribes of Israel were scattered, the spirit of the Lord went to Ethiopia; the Ethiopians became a chosen people. Ethiopia is seen as the Promised Land to which all black people will one day return.
Celebrations
Rastafarians neither celebrate Christmas nor New Year. However, they do celebrate the birthday of the Emperor Haile Selassie on 23 July. Ordinarily, Rastafarians would wish to take annual leave on this date.
Dietary Requirements
Rastafarian dietary requirements are based on the Old Testament hygienic laws. Some Rastafarians eat only ital foods - foods that are pure and untainted, or otherwise natural. Milk, coffee and alcohol are all forbidden beverages. Rastas refuse to eat pork, lamb and some seafood. Many Rastas are vegetarian.
Dress Code
An orthodox Rasta will wear their hair in long flowing locks known as dreadlocks. To cut it is viewed as sinful. The dreadlocks symbolise the values of respect, power, freedom and defiance. Rastas cover their hair at all times. Rasta women keep their legs covered. Some Rastas will proudly wear the Star of David. The colours red, black, green and yellow hold special significance for a committed Rastafarian.
Bereavement
No specific requirements beyond that of normal compassionate leave.


he emats we can eat are those that it states in Leviticus. Here is a very general summary of the meats we can and cant eat.


Can Eat: Cant Eat:

Goat Rabbit
Turkey Pig
All fish (as long as they have scales) Camel
Cow Octopus
Sheep Eel
Duck Horse
Chicken Most birds especially birds of prey
Insects

thanks newbud123 great answer, i think you covered what i was asking for, by the way he's a black work collegue but never had much hair, so ive yet to see him go 100% and stop washing his hair until it forms dreads. it just, all he talks about at work so people know he's 420.

@Newbud123

First off it doesn't matter if hes black white brown yellow purple its about livity our body's are just outer shells and the most important is on the inside second, I hope you just didn't copy and paste that from the first website that popped up on google after searching for "Rastafarian" and thought that would cover it. That info is very vague and actually some is completely incorrect for example about the dreadlocks "To cut it is viewed as sinful." and "Rastas cover their hair at all times" nah not all Rasta followers wear locks its not a MUST and I mean Haile Selassie( Ras Tafari) Didnt even have locks his hair was short and "Rastafarianism" you know thats like a slap in the face to everything Rasta stand for which is independence of Babylon(a system which opresses ie.USA,Russia China) you know?No ism skisim bullshit thats for politics ya see? so that cancels that out and I could go into more detail but quite frankly im feeling pretty damn lazy and don't feel like typing.All I can say to "the seedman" is if your friend feels a connection with Tafari and his ways than hes gonna "Become rasta" either way.

Peace.

Not Productive to spread false propaganda about Rasta....
Rasta Positive Energy.......BLessUp !

Down2earth said:

@Newbud123

First off it doesn't matter if hes black white brown yellow purple its about livity our body's are just outer shells and the most important is on the inside second, I hope you just didn't copy and paste that from the first website that popped up on google after searching for "Rastafarian" and thought that would cover it. That info is very vague and actually some is completely incorrect for example about the dreadlocks "To cut it is viewed as sinful." and "Rastas cover their hair at all times" nah not all Rasta followers wear locks its not a MUST and I mean Haile Selassie( Ras Tafari) Didnt even have locks his hair was short and "Rastafarianism" you know thats like a slap in the face to everything Rasta stand for which is independence of Babylon(a system which opresses ie.USA,Russia China) you know?No ism skisim bullshit thats for politics ya see? so that cancels that out and I could go into more detail but quite frankly im feeling pretty damn lazy and don't feel like typing.All I can say to "the seedman" is if your friend feels a connection with Tafari and his ways than hes gonna "Become rasta" either way.

Peace.

Click to expand...

This is what being rasta is (+ rep). Not just growing dreads and smoking weed. That's ridiculous if your friend wants to be rasta just he can burn. You wanna burn, burn. You wanna praise Jah praise Jah. You don't have to do one to do the other.

RasBaL said:

Not Productive to spread false propaganda about Rasta....
Rasta Positive Energy.......BLessUp !

Click to expand...

+rep Rasta is all about "Positive Vibrations"

ive always wondered this too cus there are certain things which i completely agree with in rastas such as the love for mother nature, peace and of course ganja not really as an intoxicant but more as a mind opener to see the lies hidden in the system but i dont believe that Haile Selassie is god incarnate so i dont know weather id want to be a rasta if it means not believing in it fully, i guess until i decide ill just stay without religion and believe what i want.

Maui Waui said:

ive always wondered this too cus there are certain things which i completely agree with in rastas such as the love for mother nature, peace and of course ganja not really as an intoxicant but more as a mind opener to see the lies hidden in the system but i dont believe that Haile Selassie is god incarnate so i dont know weather id want to be a rasta if it means not believing in it fully, i guess until i decide ill just stay without religion and believe what i want.

Click to expand...

Dude you don't have to join any religion. Religion is all man made. With man made rules and man made punishments. You don't have to be a rasta to smoke some herb and let it expand your thoughts about why we're here and to see through the bull shit we're fed daily. I do it everyday and I'm an agnostic. Weed itself is an eye opener, let it do it's thing on you every once in a while and you'll start to see things a lot more clearly.

Down2earth said:

@Newbud123

First off it doesn't matter if hes black white brown yellow purple its about livity our body's are just outer shells and the most important is on the inside second, I hope you just didn't copy and paste that from the first website that popped up on google after searching for "Rastafarian" and thought that would cover it. That info is very vague and actually some is completely incorrect for example about the dreadlocks "To cut it is viewed as sinful." and "Rastas cover their hair at all times" nah not all Rasta followers wear locks its not a MUST and I mean Haile Selassie( Ras Tafari) Didnt even have locks his hair was short and "Rastafarianism" you know thats like a slap in the face to everything Rasta stand for which is independence of Babylon(a system which opresses ie.USA,Russia China) you know?No ism skisim bullshit thats for politics ya see? so that cancels that out and I could go into more detail but quite frankly im feeling pretty damn lazy and don't feel like typing.All I can say to "the seedman" is if your friend feels a connection with Tafari and his ways than hes gonna "Become rasta" either way.

Peace.

Click to expand...

it does matter. the rastafari religion is a pro black religion. they believe blacks are gods chosen people. white rastafaris are very confused people.... and they look hilarious with dreadlocks.

mkmkli49 said:

Dude you don't have to join any religion. Religion is all man made. With man made rules and man made punishments. You don't have to be a rasta to smoke some herb and let it expand your thoughts about why we're here and to see through the bull shit we're fed daily. I do it everyday and I'm an agnostic. Weed itself is an eye opener, let it do it's thing on you every once in a while and you'll start to see things a lot more clearly.

Click to expand...

true that man i think that weed should not only be made legal but should be mandatory so that everyone can see the destruction we are causing to our planet everyday, mabey then we'd relize that we have a serious problem one that we actually fix by legalizing cannabis and using it as a bio fuel which would make as much oxygen as the car burns off stopping the green house effect and no more huge oil spills or cutting down of trees

andar said:

it does matter. the rastafari religion is a pro black religion. they believe blacks are gods chosen people. white rastafaris are very confused people.... and they look hilarious with dreadlocks.

Click to expand...

No theres many different branches of Rastas like the bobo shantis and the twelve tribes of israel and whatnot and there might be one that was more into Marcus Garvey teaching than others(Marcus Garvey believed somewhat that the white man was a devil and destroyed people and the earth and he wanted and told all people of african desent to return to the mother land(Africa)) but most these days looked over what their past brothers and sisters believed and now its a ONE LOVE thing ya see?Dont matter anymore we all one people trying to fight off evil and darkness everyday.One struggle.One destiny ya dig?


My suggestion,don't make statements if you dont know the facts simply put.

Peace.

i do know the facts you idiot you just said your self that they think white people are devils. i didnt say they didnt like white people i said they were pro black you moron. some rastas believe that every one can be rasta because we all originated in africa but the real, orginal rasta religion was pro black ... and now i will say it against the white establishment which they felt they were being oppressed by.
my suggestion is that you dont try to put words in other peoples mouths (posts?)
and dont accuse people of not knowing the facts of what they are talking about.
you are stupid

you said "we all one people trying to fight off evil and darkness everyday. one struggle. one destiny a dig? then you insulted me then you said peace.... you are a moron

yea i didnt think you had a response to that... you probably are white and have dreadlocks.

Im hispanic and dont have locks and if you read what I wrote and not what you felt like getting out of it you would see that I said that yes SOME! let me repeat. SOME! did believe that BUT thats not what it was originally about Selassie fought for peace and equality not segregation or one superior race.Read his speeches and you will know that the majority of Rastas didnt believe that white people where any different than blacks and that he wanted, no let me rephrase that,he pretty much pleaded that the people all from around got together and became one and that we needed each other in order to be at peace with the world and to stop the war that was currently happening in his time as emperor of Ethiopia.And no I didnt "insult" you, just simply stating that if you are not fully aware of the history you have no place in saying that its this or that.A friendly piece of advice.Unlike you calling me "stupid" and an "idiot" or saying false things about my person that you have no right to say unless you personally know me.


PEACE.

alright alright sorry i called you stupid . i dont even care about that anyways..... i do think white people with dreadlocks look funny though.. by the way i am white .... peace to you to

andar said:

i do know the facts you idiot you just said your self that they think white people are devils. i didnt say they didnt like white people i said they were pro black you moron. some rastas believe that every one can be rasta because we all originated in africa but the real, orginal rasta religion was pro black ... and now i will say it against the white establishment which they felt they were being oppressed by.
my suggestion is that you dont try to put words in other peoples mouths (posts?)
and dont accuse people of not knowing the facts of what they are talking about.
you are stupid

you said "we all one people trying to fight off evil and darkness everyday. one struggle. one destiny a dig? then you insulted me then you said peace.... you are a moron

Click to expand...

Time for school buddy:

Ok Rastafarians are not the racist white devil hating, dread wearing, pot smoking tribe of bigots you're making them out to be.

Here are some lyrics to a Bob Marley(huge public rastafarian, spread the word of rastafarianism through his music) song called "WAR"

The lyrics are take DIRECTLY from a speech given by Emporer Haile Selassie as he addressed the United Nations in 1963

"Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned...everywhere is WAR"

"Until there's no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation..."

"Until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance then the color of his eyes...WAR"

"Until the basic human right are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race..."
can you guess it??
"WAR"

"Until THAT day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship and the rule of internaional morality will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued but never obtained"

Now here's where we get a little bit of "Africa" talk

"Until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers captive in Angola, in Mozambique, South Africa, in sub-human bondage, have been toppled, utterly destroyed...WAR"

Then there's this bit about Africa

"Until that day the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, we find it necessary. And we know we shall win as we are confident in the victory of good over evil"


Doesn't say anything in there about hatin whitey, lol

Seriously man Rasta is about peace and love and oneness not at all about hate for white people or superiority for black people. Just an over all oneness of PEOPLE. ONE PEOPLE.

In the words of Morgan Heritage, "So much, so much confusion-surrounding Rastafari children and his doctrine". I am not even sure where to start here. Let me start by saying greetings and blessings. I myself hail His Imperial Majesty as the Most High, the Christ returned in His Kingly Character, Light of this World. Give thanks.
Second, I am caucasion (my skin is white...and I am of European discent). Third, Rastafari is MOST DEFINATELY a black power movement!! This is not to say anything of negativity towards any other races or peoples. The people of Africa whether they be at home or abroad have had done grave injustices done to them for 500 years now..and it should be of utmost importance to ANY persons regardless of their race, nationality, or religion to help empower the African nation and people. The liberation of Africa and her people was one of the highest priorites of H.I.M. Haile Selassie I...and so of course it runs a very strong theme through the presence of Rastafari today...but peace and justice and prosperity for ALL people was one of His Majesty's goals so I do not see anything anti-white there...only PRO-HUMAN.
To the person who commented that whites look silly with locks- I fully agree. The reason is that 99.9% of them do not understand the locks in the first place. Most hair on caucasion heads will not naturally dreadlock...they have to work on it for quite a while. The Rastafarian reason for dreadlocks stems from the Vow of a Nazarite which states that no hairs can be trimmed...and a African person's hair will naturally lock when left untrimmed. My hair will never naturally lock, so my hair will never be dread-locked simple as that. As far as someone wanting to wear what they see as just a cool-hairstyle (I know some hard-core heavymetal guys with long dreadlocks...but they are not trying to "be rasta")...I really can not condemn that.
Rastafari is about nurishment for the sick, food for the hungry, protection for the infants, care for the elderly, and reinstating clean/right ways of living (which includes the ongoing struggle for African liberation. Many were called, but few were chosen. Selassie I live-

mkmkli49 said:

Time for school buddy:

Ok Rastafarians are not the racist white devil hating, dread wearing, pot smoking tribe of bigots you're making them out to be.

Here are some lyrics to a Bob Marley(huge public rastafarian, spread the word of rastafarianism through his music) song called "WAR"

The lyrics are take DIRECTLY from a speech given by Emporer Haile Selassie as he addressed the United Nations in 1963

"Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned...everywhere is WAR"

"Until there's no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation..."

"Until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance then the color of his eyes...WAR"

"Until the basic human right are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race..."
can you guess it??
"WAR"

"Until THAT day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship and the rule of internaional morality will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued but never obtained"

Now here's where we get a little bit of "Africa" talk

"Until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers captive in Angola, in Mozambique, South Africa, in sub-human bondage, have been toppled, utterly destroyed...WAR"

Then there's this bit about Africa

"Until that day the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, we find it necessary. And we know we shall win as we are confident in the victory of good over evil"


Doesn't say anything in there about hatin whitey, lol

Seriously man Rasta is about peace and love and oneness not at all about hate for white people or superiority for black people. Just an over all oneness of PEOPLE. ONE PEOPLE.

Click to expand...

I interpret the words of H.I.M from this part of the "war" speach like this: He says " Until" at the begenning of every line. Meaning that 'UNTIL' the day that the people of the world are in unity and love....we must fight for it. "One Love" is the ultimate goal but we must not fool ourselves into thinking that work does not need to be done to obtain this goal. Also for a caucasion to spout a "One Love" mentality without first recognizing our white benefits in society and working tirelessly for reparations and emancipations for Africans is to ignore and forget the past injustices our people have done, and how it still effects today. This is why Rasta is and MUST be black-power.